Symbolic Role Research Articles

Stone tools beyond traditional functions: the journey of lithics from profane to ceremonial

The production of flint tools evolved and diversified in response to the increasing and newly appearing demands of the early societies. The maintenance of this tradition coupled with the durability of stone tools resulted in the development of the lithic tool kit and the accumulation of large lithic assemblages mainly in settlements. The twentieth century witnessed the wide investigation of those assemblages through techno-typological approaches that aim at classifying and interpreting lithic assemblages and using them to reconstruct the chronological and cultural phases of given societies. The wide use of stone tools in daily-life activities i.e. hunting, gathering, farming, and food processing, enhanced the perception of lithics as functional objects that are mainly associated with secular activities. However, investigating the changing roles of stone tools over time remained partially overlooked. Apart from finely-made flint knives, the ritual functions of stone tools remain an unexplored research area. The current paper focuses on assessing the symbolic roles of the Predynastic lithics based on their use as grave goods. The results show that varied classes of tools were recruited for funerary purposes and that the evolving roles of lithics were influenced by a long process of human-nature and people-object interactions.

용문사의 역사적 변화와 풍수환경

This study aims to discuss historical changes and geographical environments of Yongmunsa Temple based on perspectives of Feng Shui. In particular, this study is to examine characteristics of Feng Shui, reflected in Yongmunsa Temple, focusing on Jijangjeon Hall, which is a main building of Yongmunsa Temple, and a ginkgo tree which is placed at Hyeolcheo. Spatial constitution and distinctive features of arrangement of the temple buildings in Yongmunsa Temple, which is a central temple in Yangpyeong of Gyeonggi Province, consist of a central axis parallel with Daeungjeon Hall and Jijangjeon Hall. This remains not in a practically central role but in a symbolic significance and role. The true center of Yongmunsa Temple is located at not only Jijangjeon but the ginkgo tree.

Social Democratic Reflections on Women’s Activism in the Labor Movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina During the First World War

This article seeks to provide an insight into the perception of female activism, the symbolic role of women and their future in the labor movement during the First World War, i.e. to show the imagined space that party and trade union bodies intended for women. The newspaper of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP BiH), Glas slobode (Voice of Freedom), will be used to analyze the category of gender and its representation in one of the sections of the international social democratic movement.

Собор святых, в земле Красноярской просиявших. К вопросу иконографии

At the turn of the XX-XXI centuries the list of saints of the Orthodox Church has been replenished with an impressive number of names of new martyrs and confessors who suffered during the Soviet era. In this regard, such a phenomenon as the "Synaxes of the Saints of the Diocese" has spread widely. As you know, each Catholic memory of saints established in the Church involves veneration, therefore, new celebrations appear dedicated to the Synaxes of the ascetics of the Russian Church in various regions of the country. And this means that right now new iconographic images of the New Martyrs and locally venerated saints are being born. Modern icon painters are actively engaged in the creation of icons and temple paintings that glorify the new saints and tell about the torment and executions to which they were subjected. In 2015, the Synaxe of Saints of the Krasnoyarsk Metropolis was established. To date, only three icons dedicated to the Synaxe of the Krasnoyarsk Saints are known. The article for the first time examines the process of adding the iconography of the Synaxe of the Krasnoyarsk Saints within the framework of church canonical art, defines its historical and partly theological aspects, analyzes compositional and stylistic devices, shows the role of symbolism in revealing the image, determines the uniqueness of the figurative solution, identifies some problems and trends in the development of modern church art. painting in Krasnoyarsk. The author for the first time introduces new names of Krasnoyarsk masters and their works into scientific circulation.

Престижное оружие, конское снаряжение и воинский убор эпохи Великого переселения народов на Боспоре Киммерийском

The symbolic role of prestigious weapons, horse tack, and “military” costume as the owner’s social level marker is well known. Moreover, the artefacts of “ceremonial” military dress and horse tack form reliable markers of cultural ties and military-political orientation of the ruling elites in ancient societies. Prestigious weapons were made by order or took as spoils of war. Furthermore, “ceremonial” weapons and horse tack were diplomatic gifts and appeared in symbolic investiture of barbarian “kings.” This article addresses the finds originating from Cimmerian Bosporos and dated from the Great Migration, or the Hunnic (last third of the fourth to the second third of the fifth century) and Post-Hunnic Periods (second third of the fifth to the second third of the sixth century): swords, scramasaxes, helmets, shields, horse tack, and “military” costume parts. They meet with parallels both in the Empire and the Barbaricum. Simultaneously, the attire in question misses important artefacts like T-shaped brooches of the Roman administrators of higher ranks and barbarian “royal” gold bracelets with widened ends. Generally, in the case of Cimmerian Bosporos, military aristocratic culture from the Great Migration Period featured two traditions associated with the great powers of antiquity, the Romano-Byzantine and Iranian ones, with the first predominant among the number of finds. The Eastern Roman Empire’s sphere of military and political influence in the Ponto-Caucasian steppes extended very far, as long as the area controlled by the Sabiroi Huns inhabiting the North-Eastern Caucasus. However, political and, accordingly, military influence of Sassanian Iran in Caucasus is attested by written sources, where it is also confirmed by striking finds of prestigious weapons. This way, Cimmerian Bosporos appeared at the crossroads of these two military traditions of the great powers of antiquity.

Training of engineers on a bilingual basis: specifics of the English mathematical language

Due to globalization processes in higher education, the use of English as the medium of instruction is becoming more widespread in non-English-speaking countries. Bilingual education is actively being implemented in Ukraine, where professional disciplines are taught in a foreign language, primarily English. This article emphasizes that in bilingual education, the foreign language serves not only as a goal but also as a means of comprehending specialized knowledge. Consequently, the issues related to the nuances of employing a foreign language within specific subject areas, especially when teaching professional disciplines at technical universities, are highly relevant. The article underscores that, at present, only specific aspects of the challenges associated with bilingual higher education have been identified. A comprehensive concept of bilingual professional education in Ukraine has yet to be fully developed. In particular, the methodological and technological foundations for bilingual education in professional engineering and technical disciplines remain underdeveloped. The primary objective of this work is to explore the distinctive features of the English mathematical language within the context of bilingual training for future engineers. The article also analyzes the use of mathematical symbols in acquiring relevant linguistic conventions. It highlights various linguistic aspects of mathematical English texts and conducts a comparative analysis between mathematical and general literary language, examining their shared characteristics and differences. From this perspective, the article delves into the semantic and syntactic aspects of mathematical language, its vocabulary, terminology, and the role of symbols in mathematical expressions. Particular attention is devoted to the use of variables in standard expressions. Various types of variables are identified, including terms, characteristics, and references. The article introduces the concept of “highlighting a form in mathematical language and filling this form with variables”, essentially associating structure with content. The practical application of this concept results in the creation of mathematical templates or clichés, which are utilized in bilingual mathematics education. The article provides examples of such templates and illustrates how they can be employed. Practical experience confirms the effectiveness of this approach, especially when teaching higher mathematics in English to students pursuing engineering and technical specialties. It demonstrates that students can quickly grasp the fundamentals of the English mathematical language through this method

Cultural roles of primates in an Amazonian urban center

Primate species in the Neotropics are undergoing increasing anthropogenic threats, including unsustainable trade and consumption by rapidly urbanizing communities. Yet the diverse cultural and symbolic factors contributing to primate trade and consumption are understudied, which inhibits the design of sound conservation policies for regulating primate utilization. In this scoping study, we administered an online survey seeking to characterize the ecological, market-based, and symbolic roles of primates in Iquitos, Peru, a rapidly urbanizing center of the Peruvian Amazon. We assessed the salience of each inferred taxa and frequencies of respondents indicating different roles that primates play in the urban system. Results suggest that primate species across sixteen inferred genera and five families play diverse cultural roles in the city of Iquitos, including as food (subsistence and consumption as traditional practice), for use as body parts or live individuals, depictions in art and stories, and as symbols to attract tourists to businesses and to promote conservation. The most salient species based on survey responses also held high conservation value (i.e. were Endangered or Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List). These preliminary findings suggest that conservation measures aimed at reducing primate trade by targeting economic incentives and commercial flows alone may be ineffective in culturally diverse Amazon cities. Future research should assess the potential to leverage primate symbolic values and meanings in conservation efforts in light of increased rural–urban migration, infrastructure development, and tourism in the urbanizing Amazon.

The role of symbols in higher professional education

The article considers the peculiarities of knowledge translation in modern professional education, reveals the negative sides of scientificity of educational content. In particular, the separation of the subject and object of research characteristic of scientific consciousness can negatively affect the formation of the subject of professional activity in the process of professional education. After all, the subject of scientific research, in order to remain in scientific positions, should not be partial to the studied object, inextricably link his life with it. At the moment, higher school should not only transfer scientific knowledge to future specialists, but also educate them as professionals, linking their lives with their profession, as well as patriots, ready to defend their country. In this regard, since this year a new subject - "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" - has been included in the curriculum. At the same time, students' mastering the content of this discipline as a purely scientific one may not lead to the formation of their patriotic position. In this regard, the authors of the article suggest that when teaching such disciplines to emphasize not on the scientificity, but on the symbolism of the content taught. In this connection, the article considers the differences between scientific and symbolic content of education, defines the concept of symbol, establishes the role of symbols in human life and education.
 Material and methods. When writing the article we relied on the works of A. F. Losev, in which he unfolds a dialectical understanding of the symbol and its role in people's lives. Following A. F. Losev, we use the dialectical approach to understand human existence and the role of symbols in it. Naturally, the education of people is inextricably linked to their existence, which means that it cannot do without symbols. Relying on the dialectics presented in the works of A. F. Losev, we designate this approach as dialectical-symbolic.
 Results. According to the results of our study, in the process of education it is necessary not only to transfer scientific knowledge to students, but also to familiarize them with appropriate symbols. Such familiarization will allow to form them as patriots of their country and as full-fledged subjects of professional activity.

Navigating knowledge and ignorance in the boardroom: A study of audit committee members' oversight styles

AbstractUsing data collected from 21 interviews with audit committee members (ACMs) of Canadian reporting issuers, this study examines the ways in which ACMs understand and enact the additional responsibilities placed on them by regulators in the post–Sarbanes‐Oxley Act era. Adopting a social constructivist approach to knowledge and expertise, the study shows that despite the financial literacy requirements for ACMs, financial expertise is far from being uniformly understood by ACMs. Indeed, ACMs perceive expertise in many different ways, which leads them to engage in a wide variety of practices to fulfill their responsibilities on audit committees (ACs). The analysis of the data makes it possible to identify three oversight styles—observing, inspecting, and storytelling—that illustrate the differences in how ACMs understand their role, prepare for AC meetings, invest time in this preparation, and develop lines of questioning. These findings provide empirical insights into both the substantive and symbolic roles of ACs and illustrate the role of knowledge and ignorance in shaping ACMs' understanding of their oversight role. This study also raises questions about the soundness of having ACs oversee multiple different processes. By highlighting that ACMs do not comprehend and enact their role uniformly, this study reveals the important nuances in ACMs' oversight approaches.

Ritualizing Politics and Politicizing Ritual: A Study of Kullu Dussehra

The study explores the modus operandi of the communities, kingship and modern nation-state in the spatial distribution of power in the ritual space. Kullu Dussehra is celebrated as a performative idiom of kingship, symbolically legitimizing royal or political power. It has consistently been appearing as a political phenomenon of burning Ravana’s effigy by the political leader. This symbolic role associates them with the pan-Indian imagination of ruler or lawmaker as the protector of dharma. In Kullu Dussehra, the share of power is spatially distributed, and the manifestation of royal power is celebrated and transmitted in public. The ritual space manifests the intersectionality of traditional notions of kingship and the modern nation-state. The paper tries to understand the power politics related to caste and social hierarchy in the Kullvi community. An overt caste-based ritual duty is highly practiced and expected to be celebrated by the community. However, there are multiple possibilities for the community to destabilize the ideological orientation of the hegemonic agencies.

Transitivity in Pope Francis’ Speech in Morocco: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis

The way we speak and the words we choose to convey a certain message are not neutral. They are overloaded with certain meanings that represent our worldview, namely when delivered by most influential people like religious leaders and used in contexts which are ideologically constructed like that of the speech of Pope Francis with his symbolic power and role in religious diplomacy. The main aim of this study is to investigate the construction of experiential meanings in Pope Francis' historical speech during his apostolic journey to Morocco on March 19, 2019, by examining the specific linguistic choices employed. This study employs the transitivity model within the framework of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as its theoretical foundation for analysis. Precisely, using quantitative analysis, this paper endeavors to address two key questions: Firstly, what distributions and patterns of transitivity has Pope Francis utilized in constructing experiential meanings in his speech in Morocco? Second, what functions do the transitivity processes and each participant involved have in the delivered speech text, aiding the speaker in conveying their intention? The dataset comprises 182 clauses extracted from the aforementioned speech. The results of this study showed that Pope Francis employed six types of transitivity processes, totaling 186 processes. Yet, material processes, constituting 62%, and mental processes, comprising 15%, were identified as dominant, suggesting their significant roles in conveying vibrant information in his speech that aimed to enhance dialogue and foster friendly relations between Catholicism and Islam, promoting cooperation in the construction and establishment of a world characterized by sincere, courageous, and essential collaboration. The findings therefore indicate that transitivity choices play a crucial role in conveying implicit meanings.

Symbols in Magic: Tools for Transforming Reality

Abstract The following paper focuses on the role and function of symbols in magical practice. The first part explains the symbol as a semiotic term with all its fundamental features, including the necessary function and condition of ordinary communication. The next section deals with symbols that fulfill the essential role of transforming reality within the framework of magical practice. Examples of sigil magic, Tarot, and amulets explain the paradigm, which uses symbolic language as a mandatory condition for its existence and simultaneously ignores the shared awareness of the origin of the symbol as a constitutional element of its functionality. This paper demonstrates how the symbols used in everyday communication and the symbols used in magical practice are two different entities performing distinct kinds of function, and primarily that they differ in requirements for being created and functional.

Perjalanan Kapitalisme Informal Pada Usaha Thrifting Melalui Interpretasi Mitos (Interaksionalisme Simbolik, Herbert Mead)

This research investigates the course of informal capitalism in the thrifting industry and the role of myth and symbolism in shaping business culture and practices in this context. With reference to Herbert Mead's symbolic interactionalism framework, this study uncovers how symbolism and the impact of sustainability myths, and sellers and buyers' perceptions of seller and buyer preferences and thrift store marketing strategies. In combining social and economic aspects, this research provides a deep insight into the complex dynamics of thrifting industries. The results of this research enrich our understanding of the impact of social and economic change in contemporary society and highlight the economic and cultural complexities in the thrifting industry that are increasingly sustainable and closely linked to myths and symbolism

Corpus Analysis of the Camel Concept in Kyrgyz Culture of Language

The study is devoted to a corpus analysis of the camel (төө) concept in the context of Kyrgyz culture of language. The purpose of the study is to analyze the role and meaning of the camel in Kyrgyz culture using a corpus-based approach. The study includes an analysis of the historical connection of the camel with the Kyrgyz people, its economic significance, symbolic significance in traditions and rituals, as well as a lexical and syntactic analysis of the use of the camel concept in the Kyrgyz language. The results obtained will help to better understand and interpret the role of the camel in Kyrgyz culture and its connection with the people. They will also provide valuable information about the symbolic and practical role of the camel in the daily life of the Kyrgyz people, its significance in rituals and traditions, and its representation in literature and folklore. The study will also reveal changes or adaptations in the perception and depiction of camels over time. The multifaceted role of the camel in Kyrgyz society is considered. Analysis of a variety of texts will provide a comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance of the camel in Kyrgyz society and contribute to the broader discourse on cultural heritage and identity.

Freud’s Psychoanalysis and the Genealogy of Sport

ABSTRACT Freudian psychoanalysis offers us often neglected but unique and very fruitful possibilities for an original interpretation of sport. In this article we first look at some basic Freudian concepts, such as the role of sexuality, the unconscious and dreams. In doing so, it becomes clear that sport can and should be interpreted in a similar way to Freud’s interpretation of dreams. Just as dreams need to be decoded and interpreted, sport needs to be decoded and interpreted in order to understand it. On this basis, we then build a system for understanding sport that also incorporates the other important concepts of Freud’s psychoanalysis. The concepts of repression, symptom formation and the role of symbols prove to be particularly relevant for understanding sport. Decoding symbols in sport (e.g. scoring a goal) shows us that sport is a derivative of the libido and has an unconscious sexual structure. Unveiling the hidden unconscious sexuality of sport shows us that (male) sport was created for the sake of women, so that men (as winners) could gain a privileged status in female desire. Sport turns out to be a symbolic substitute for the satisfaction of human sexual needs. However, to better understand the competitive nature of sport, one must include the Oedipus and castration complex. It is castration anxiety that drives sporting competition. Victory is symbolically linked to the castration of the opponent. Next we turn to Freud’s concept of transference. It helps us to understand the complexity of the relationship between the athlete and the coach. This has a strong influence on athletic success. When things do not go as planned for an athlete and unexpected injuries occur, Freud’s concept of ‘advantage through illness’ can help us understand the athlete’s ‘escape into injury’.

Religion, church, national identity, and the solidarity movement in school history textbooks in Poland

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the Solidarity movement narratives, focusing on church representatives, religious issues, and symbols in the Polish history textbooks for upper secondary schools between 1991 and 2018. The analysed textbooks prove to reinforce Poland’s national and religious identities, with John Paul II and the priest Popiełuszko being the primary national heroes of the Solidarity movement. The Catholic Church is presented as a protector of national values during the Solidarity period. The study also reveals the gradual reduction and simplification of the textbooks’ content. This tendency is a trigger for the polarisation of the historical discourse, posing a weapon for secular policies to misuse the ideological and symbolic roles of the Church in reproducing the Pole-Catholic pattern in history textbooks.

Machinic Visibility in Platform Discourses: Ubiquitous Interfaces for Precarious Users

Ubiquitous interfaces are becoming a key element in the promotional materials of tech companies. These new interfaces, normally associated with AR and VR systems, promise a future of frictionless technological interaction, allowing users to access any information and service from anywhere. Both factual and fictional, these systems are shown to enrich their users’ lives through machinic modes of vision and visualisation. In this paper, we frame promotional materials as elements in the discourses of Big Tech corporations that serve a strategic role in the expansion of their digital platforms. We analyse the symbolic role played by ubiquitous interfaces in the promotion of three digital platform services: Amazon’s Alexa Together, Microsoft’s Azure and Meta’s Metaverse. We claim that narratives of sensorial enrichment and empowerment—allowing people to not only see more, but better—are key in normalising the presence of platform interfaces in users’ lives. However, these narratives also advance what we call a regime of machinic visibility: a dependency of human vision on data processes and their visualisation. The imagined user of these services is a precarious one, unable to function or ‘see’ properly without a platform’s digital infrastructure. This precarity then justifies a relationship of dependence: the companies frame their products not just as enhancements, but as vital components of everyday life, implying that life itself is untenable without the intervention of platform companies. At the same time, Big Tech eschews criticism of its own role in undermining the social infrastructures and networks on which people depend.

CULINARY IN ISLAMIC-JAVANESE CULTURAL HERITAGE FROM A CHEMISTRY PERSPECTIVE

Food plays a significant role in the religious rituals of Java, specifically within the realm of Islam, where special foods are prepared and consumed during religious ceremonies and celebrations, imbuing spiritual practices with a unique cultural essence. Understanding the chemistry behind these foods is essential for comprehending their health benefits and their embodiment of noble values within Javanese and Islamic cultures. This article seeks to delve into the chemistry of various cultural heritage foods from an Islamic-Javanese standpoint. To achieve this, a thorough literature review was conducted, focusing on culinary practices embedded within the Islamic-Javanese cultural heritage and exploring the corresponding chemical explanations. The research employed a systematic and meticulous search across academic databases, online libraries, and search engines to gather a broad range of perspectives, theories, and empirical evidence. Food, as a reflection of culture, serves both practical and symbolic roles within a particular cultural community. It serves as a manifestation of the values, traditions, and identity of the cultural group, while also meeting the physiological needs of individuals by providing essential nutrients and energy. Beyond mere sustenance, food holds utilitarian value by ensuring survival and promoting overall well-being. By delving into the chemistry of these cultural heritage foods, this article aims to shed light on their significance within the Islamic-Javanese context, uncovering the intricate interplay between chemistry, culture, and spirituality.

CONFLICT OF MEANINGS IN CIAMSI PREDICTION TEXTS (HERMENEUTICS OF CIAMSI PREDICTION TEXTS AT VIHARA DHARMA BHAKTI AND DHARMA JAYA TOASEBIO)

Ciamsi, a long-standing historical legacy, continues to be popular to this day, serving as concrete evidence of its enduring appeal. Spanning the tumultuous shifts of historical epochs, Ciamsi has persevered and been preserved within various temples, both large and small, playing a pivotal role as a divination tool. The enduring presence of Ciamsi not only underscores its unquestionable intrinsic value but also reflects the unwavering spirit of Chinese tradition and its cultural heritage. Consequently, this research is deeply rooted in the environment of centuries-old temples in Jakarta, where Ciamsi has become an inseparable part of the local cultural fabric. The primary objective of this research is to delve profoundly into the intricate meanings and interpretations embedded within Ciamsi. Additionally, the research aims to unveil the profound role of symbolism within the realm of Ciamsi, as employed by Vihara Dharma Bhakti and Vihara Dharma Jaya Toasebio. To achieve these objectives, this study employs the comprehensive hermeneutical framework introduced by the eminent philosopher, Paul Ricouer. This research fundamentally aligns with the qualitative research paradigm, enabling a profound and nuanced understanding of the subject matter.

The Representative Meaning of Longing in Mahmoud Darwish's "Ila Ummi" Poem Viewed from a Semantic Approach

Poetry is one literary form that requires comprehension. Therefore, this study examines the lexical, grammatical, and referential meanings of the poems in Ila Ummi. By summarizing the data gathered, this study employs descriptive qualitative research methodology. The poem Ila Ummi by Mahmoud Darwish, which can be found in his poetry collection Aasyiq Min Filastiin, serves as the primary data source for this study. Books, journals, and other supporting materials make up the secondary data. The study's findings indicate that Ila Ummi's poetry has referential, grammatical, and lexical semantic meanings. Grammatical meaning is the meaning of a sentence that varies due to structural changes, as opposed to lexical meaning, which is the meaning stated in a dictionary or refers to the real meaning. Furthermore, this paper investigates the role of figurative language, metaphor, and symbolism in conveying the emotional depth of longing in "Ila Ummi." The poet's use of metaphors, such as the land as a mother, and symbols, like the olive tree, are explored to unveil the layers of meaning that these elements contribute to the overall semantic structure of the poem. This study contributes to the understanding of Mahmoud Darwish's work as a literary and cultural artifact that transcends individual sentiment and embodies the collective experience of longing for a homeland. By employing a semantic approach, the paper highlights the poem's ability to evoke many emotions and associations, making "Ila Ummi" a profound representation of longing that resonates with readers on both personal and universal levels.